Hand Surgery

Dupuytren´s Contracture, Fibromatosis of the Palmar Fascia, Palmar Fibromatosis

Development

The precise cause of Dupuytren's contracture remains unknown to date. It is frequently a family disease. In many cases, it is related to liver disease, diabetes and the administering of anti-epileptic drugs. As the disease progresses, stretching limitations/bending contractures in the fingers occur, which affect in particular the small finger and the ring finger. However, the disease may also be present in the hollow hand region and middle finger; in rare cases it may affect the thumb in the index finger. The stretching limitations are caused by the increased development of benign, knotty and strand-like tissue. This substance, which multiplies, is called collagen.
Dupuytren's contracture may also be present in other parts of the body, for instance in patients suffering from the following diseases: Morbus Ledderhose (plantar fibromatosis) = hardening of the sole of the foot; Morbus Peyronie (induratio penis plastica) = hardening of the penis; fasciitis nodularis = hardening of the abdominal wall.

Symptoms

In the early stages of the disease, the patient does not have any symptoms. The only indications that the disease is developing are minor knotty hardenings that can be felt in the hollow hand. As the disease progresses, these changes multiply and, as a rule, lead to a bending dislocation of the small and ring finger. However, other fingers may also be affected.

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